Improved Packaging Articles

ABSTRACT

An improved shipping article includes a single piece of substantially planar material with parallel scores formed therein thereby defining substantially planar sections of the shipping article, the planar sections of the shipping article defining, when the piece of substantially planar material is folded along the parallel scores, a first pair of opposing, substantially parallel, spaced-apart sides, a second pair of opposing, substantially parallel, spaced-apart sides that are substantially perpendicular to the first pair of sides, and a pair of dividing walls located adjacent each other and dividing a compartment formed by the first and second pairs of sides into two sub-compartments. A top extension is sized and shaped to fold down to form a top of one of the sub-compartments. Each of the top extensions includes a hole therein sized to receive a human finger or thumb to facilitate lifting, and shelves form sub-sub-compartments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to packaging articles, and moreparticularly to improved packaging articles for shipping fragile items.

2. Background and Related Art

Articles for shipping fragile items such as glass bottles, cans, andother beverage containers need to provide adequate protection for theshipped items. Thus, the shipping articles should be able to dampenvibration and absorb shock from any angle. Ideally, such shippingarticles should also be durable, lightweight, affordable,environmentally friendly, and easy-to-use. Once shipped items arrive attheir destination, it should also be easy for the recipient to removethe shipped articles without damaging them.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Implementation of the invention provides improved shipping articles thatsatisfy the needs for shipping of fragile items such as glass bottles,cans, and other beverage containers. Such shipping articles are filledand inserted into a secondary shipping container, such as an externalbox, for shipping of the items with adequate protection for the fragileitems. The fragile items are protected from vibration and shock duringshipping.

Certain implementations of the invention provide an improved shippingarticle including a single piece of substantially planar material withparallel scores formed therein thereby defining six substantially planarsections of the shipping article, the six planar sections of theshipping article defining, when the piece of substantially planarmaterial is folded along the parallel scores, a first pair of opposing,substantially parallel, spaced-apart sides, a second pair of opposing,substantially parallel, spaced-apart sides that are substantiallyperpendicular to the first pair of sides, and a pair of dividing wallslocated adjacent each other and dividing a compartment formed by thefirst and second pairs of sides into two sub-compartments. Each of theplanar sections defining the dividing walls includes a top extensionsized and shaped to fold down to form a top of one of thesub-compartments. Each of the top extensions includes a hole thereinsized to receive a human finger or thumb to facilitate lifting of theshipping article by the top extensions during insertion of or removal ofthe shipping article from a secondary shipping container.

In some implementations, the parallel scores further define a seventhsubstantially planar section of the shipping article. When the piece ofsubstantially flat material is folded along the parallel scores, two ofthe planar sections of the shipping article jointly form one of the twoof the first pair of opposing, substantially parallel, spaced-apartsides. A single third planar section of the shipping article forms theother of the first pair of opposing, substantially parallel,spaced-apart sides. In some of such implementations, thesub-compartments have a substantially rectangular cross-section whentaken substantially perpendicular to the material of the sides. In someof such implementations, the sub-compartments have a substantiallysquare cross-section when taken substantially perpendicular to thematerial of the sides. In some of such implementations, each of theplanar sections defining the dividing walls further includes a bottomextension sized and shaped to fold up to form a bottom of one of thesub-compartments. The substantially planar material further includes aplurality of slits extending between adjacent sides of the first andsecond pairs of sides separating portions thereof above and below thetop and the bottom of the sub-compartments, thereby permitting theportions above and below the top and the bottom of the sub-compartmentsto be inwardly displaced after the piece of substantially planarmaterial is folded and the tops and the bottoms of the sub-compartmentsare folded down and up, respectively, to hold the tops and the bottomsof the sub-compartments in place. In some of such implementations, thepiece of substantially planar material includes two of the plurality ofslits for each top and for each bottom of the sub-compartments.

In some implementations, each of the planar sections defining thedividing walls further includes a bottom extension sized and shaped tofold up to form a bottom of one of the sub-compartments. Thesubstantially planar material further includes a plurality of slitsextending between adjacent sides of the first and second pairs of sidesseparating portions thereof above the tops and below the bottoms of thesub-compartments, thereby permitting the portions above the tops andbelow the bottoms of the sub-compartments to be inwardly displaced afterthe piece of substantially planar material is folded and the tops andthe bottoms of the sub-compartments are folded down and up,respectively, to hold the tops and the bottoms of the sub-compartmentsin place.

In some implementations, one or more of the sides of the first pair ofopposing sides or the second pair of opposing sides includes anitem-separating shelf formed as a portion of the single piece ofsubstantially planar material detached from its respective side exceptalong a line substantially perpendicular to the parallel scores, wherebythe shelf is adapted to fold into one of the sub-compartments toseparate such sub-compartment into vertically spacedsub-sub-compartments. In some of such implementations, the shippingarticle includes item-separating shelves such as two item-separatingshelves separating the two sub-compartments into foursub-sub-compartments, four item-separating shelves separating the twosub-compartments into six sub-sub-compartments, six item-separatingshelves separating the two sub-compartments into eightsub-sub-compartments.

In some implementations, the single piece of material includes or iscorrugated cardboard. In some implementations, the sub-compartments aresized to receive items such as wine bottles, aluminum beverage cans,beverage bottles, beverage growlers, beverage crowlers, and beveragebombers. In some implementations, when the shipping article is folded,the shipping article contains and protects two or more items in thesub-compartments between the tops and bottoms formed by bottomextensions sized and shaped to fold up from the planar sections definingthe dividing walls. When the shipping article is located within anexternal box that encloses the shipping article, the external box andthe shipping article form a first crush void above the tops, and asecond crush void below the bottoms, the first and second crush voidsbeing defined by portions of the first and second pairs of opposingsides that extend beyond the bottoms and the tops.

According to some implementations, an improved shipping article includesa single piece of substantially planar material with parallel scoresformed therein thereby defining seven substantially planar sections ofthe shipping article, the seven planar sections of the shipping articledefining, when the piece of substantially planar material is foldedalong the parallel scores, a first pair of opposing, substantiallyparallel, spaced-apart sides, one of the first pair of sides beingformed of a single of the planar sections and the other of the firstpair of sides being formed of two other of the planar sections, a secondpair of opposing, substantially parallel, spaced-apart sides that aresubstantially perpendicular to the first pair of sides, and a pair ofdividing walls located adjacent each other and dividing a compartmentformed by the first and second pairs of sides into two sub-compartments.Each of the planar sections defining the dividing walls includes a topextension sized and shaped to fold down to form a top of one of thesub-compartments, and a bottom extension sized and shaped to fold up toform a bottom of one of the sub-compartments.

In some implementations, each of the top extensions includes a holetherein sized to receive a human finger or thumb to facilitate liftingof the shipping article by the top extensions during insertion of orremoval of the shipping article from a secondary shipping container. Insome implementations, the sub-compartments have a substantially squarecross-section when taken substantially perpendicular to the material ofthe sides. In some implementations, the substantially planar materialfurther includes two slits for each bottom of the sub-compartments andfor each top of the sub-compartments, the slits extending betweenadjacent sides of the first and second pairs of sides separatingportions thereof above and below the top and the bottom of thesub-compartments, thereby permitting the portions above the tops andbelow the bottoms of the sub-compartments to be inwardly displaced afterthe piece of substantially planar material is folded and the tops andthe bottoms of the sub-compartments are folded down and up,respectively, to hold the tops and the bottoms of the sub-compartmentsin place.

In some implementations, one or more of the sides of the first pair ofopposing sides or the second pair of opposing sides includes anitem-separating shelf formed as a portion of the single piece ofsubstantially planar material detached from its respective side exceptalong a line substantially perpendicular to the parallel scores, wherebythe shelf is adapted to fold into one of the sub-compartments toseparate such sub-compartment into vertically spacedsub-sub-compartments. In some of such implementations, the shippingarticle includes item-separating shelves such as two item-separatingshelves separating the two sub-compartments into foursub-sub-compartments, four item-separating shelves separating the twosub-compartments into six sub-sub-compartments, six item-separatingshelves separating the two sub-compartments into eightsub-sub-compartments.

In some implementations, the single piece of material includes or iscorrugated cardboard. In some implementations, the sub-compartments aresized to receive items such as wine bottles, aluminum beverage cans,beverage bottles, beverage growlers, beverage crowlers, and beveragebombers. In some implementations, when the shipping article is folded,the shipping article contains and protects two or more items in thesub-compartments between the tops and bottoms formed by bottomextensions sized and shaped to fold up from the planar sections definingthe dividing walls. When the shipping article is located within anexternal box that encloses the shipping article, the external box andthe shipping article form a first crush void above the tops, and asecond crush void below the bottoms, the first and second crush voidsbeing defined by portions of the first and second pairs of opposingsides that extend beyond the bottoms and the tops.

According to some implementations, an improved shipping article includesa single piece of substantially planar material with parallel scoresformed therein thereby defining six substantially planar sections of theshipping article, the six planar sections of the shipping articledefining, when the piece of substantially planar material is foldedalong the parallel scores, a first pair of opposing, substantiallyparallel, spaced-apart sides, a second pair of opposing, substantiallyparallel, spaced-apart sides that are substantially perpendicular to thefirst pair of sides, and a pair of dividing walls located adjacent eachother and dividing a compartment formed by the first and second pairs ofsides into two sub-compartments. Each of the planar sections definingthe dividing walls includes a top extension sized and shaped to folddown to form a top of one of the sub-compartments and a bottom extensionsized and shaped to fold up to form a bottom of one of thesub-compartments. One or more of the sides of the first pair of opposingsides or the second pair of opposing sides includes an item-separatingshelf formed as a portion of the single piece of substantially planarmaterial detached from its respective side except along a linesubstantially perpendicular to the parallel scores, whereby the shelf isadapted to fold into one of the sub-compartments to separate suchsub-compartment into vertically spaced sub-sub-compartments.

In some implementations, the parallel scores further define a seventhsubstantially planar section of the shipping article, wherein when thepiece of substantially flat material is folded along the parallelscores, two of the planar sections of the shipping article jointly formone of the two of the first pair of opposing, substantially parallel,spaced-apart sides, and a single third planar section of the shippingarticle forms the other of the first pair of opposing, substantiallyparallel, spaced-apart sides. In some of such implementations, thesub-compartments have a substantially square cross-section when takensubstantially perpendicular to the material of the sides. In some ofsuch implementations, each of the planar sections defining the dividingwalls further includes a bottom extension sized and shaped to fold up toform a bottom of one of the sub-compartments. The substantially planarmaterial further includes a plurality of slits extending betweenadjacent sides of the first and second pairs of sides separatingportions thereof above and below the top and the bottom of thesub-compartments, thereby permitting the portions above and below thetop and the bottom of the sub-compartments to be inwardly displacedafter the piece of substantially planar material is folded and the topsand the bottoms of the sub-compartments are folded down and up,respectively, to hold the tops and the bottoms of the sub-compartmentsin place. In some of such implementations, the piece of substantiallyplanar material includes two of the plurality of slits for each top andfor each bottom of the sub-compartments.

In some implementations, each of the top extensions includes a holetherein sized to receive a human finger or thumb to facilitate liftingof the shipping article by the top extensions during insertion of orremoval of the shipping article from a secondary shipping container. Insome implementations, the substantially planar material further includesa plurality of slits extending between adjacent sides of the first andsecond pairs of sides separating portions thereof above the tops andbelow the bottoms of the sub-compartments, thereby permitting theportions above the tops and below the bottoms of the sub-compartments tobe inwardly displaced after the piece of substantially planar materialis folded and the tops and the bottoms of the sub-compartments arefolded down and up, respectively, to hold the tops and the bottoms ofthe sub-compartments in place.

In some implementations, the shipping article includes item-separatingshelves such as two item-separating shelves separating the twosub-compartments into four sub-sub-compartments, four item-separatingshelves separating the two sub-compartments into sixsub-sub-compartments, six item-separating shelves separating the twosub-compartments into eight sub-sub-compartments.

In some implementations, the single piece of material includes or iscorrugated cardboard. In some implementations, the sub-compartments aresized to receive items such as wine bottles, aluminum beverage cans,beverage bottles, beverage growlers, beverage crowlers, and beveragebombers. In some implementations, when the shipping article is folded,the shipping article contains and protects two or more items in thesub-compartments between the tops and bottoms formed by bottomextensions sized and shaped to fold up from the planar sections definingthe dividing walls. When the shipping article is located within anexternal box that encloses the shipping article, the external box andthe shipping article form a first crush void above the tops, and asecond crush void below the bottoms, the first and second crush voidsbeing defined by portions of the first and second pairs of opposingsides that extend beyond the bottoms and the tops.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention will become more fullyapparent from the following description and appended claims, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are,therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the inventionwill be described and explained with additional specificity and detailthrough the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a plan (flat, unfolded) view of an exemplary shippingarticle;

FIG. 2 shows a top-down cross sectional view of the shipping article ofFIG. 1 in a partially folded state;

FIG. 3 shows a top-down perspective view of the shipping article of FIG.1 in a fully folded state;

FIG. 4 shows a plan (flat, unfolded) view of an alternate exemplaryshipping article;

FIG. 5 shows a top-down cross-sectional view of the shipping article ofFIG. 4 in a partially folded state;

FIG. 6 shows a plan (flat, unfolded view of an alternate exemplaryshipping article;

FIG. 7 shows a plan (flat, unfolded) view of an alternate exemplaryshipping article;

FIG. 8 shows a top-down cross sectional view of the shipping article ofFIG. 7 in a partially folded state; and

FIG. 9 shows a top-down perspective view of the shipping article of FIG.7 in a fully folded state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A description of embodiments of the present invention will now be givenwith reference to the Figures. It is expected that the present inventionmay take many other forms and shapes, hence the following disclosure isintended to be illustrative and not limiting, and the scope of theinvention should be determined by reference to the appended claims.

Certain embodiments of the invention provide an improved shippingarticle including a single piece of substantially planar material withparallel scores formed therein thereby defining six substantially planarsections of the shipping article, the six planar sections of theshipping article defining, when the piece of substantially planarmaterial is folded along the parallel scores, a first pair of opposing,substantially parallel, spaced-apart sides, a second pair of opposing,substantially parallel, spaced-apart sides that are substantiallyperpendicular to the first pair of sides, and a pair of dividing wallslocated adjacent each other and dividing a compartment formed by thefirst and second pairs of sides into two sub-compartments. Each of theplanar sections defining the dividing walls includes a top extensionsized and shaped to fold down to form a top of one of thesub-compartments. Each of the top extensions includes a hole thereinsized to receive a human finger or thumb to facilitate lifting of theshipping article by the top extensions during insertion of or removal ofthe shipping article from a secondary shipping container.

In some embodiments, the parallel scores further define a seventhsubstantially planar section of the shipping article. When the piece ofsubstantially flat material is folded along the parallel scores, two ofthe planar sections of the shipping article jointly form one of the twoof the first pair of opposing, substantially parallel, spaced-apartsides. A single third planar section of the shipping article forms theother of the first pair of opposing, substantially parallel,spaced-apart sides. In some of such embodiments, the sub-compartmentshave a substantially rectangular cross-section when taken substantiallyperpendicular to the material of the sides. In some of such embodiments,the sub-compartments have a substantially square cross-section whentaken substantially perpendicular to the material of the sides. In someof such embodiments, each of the planar sections defining the dividingwalls further includes a bottom extension sized and shaped to fold up toform a bottom of one of the sub-compartments. The substantially planarmaterial further includes a plurality of slits extending betweenadjacent sides of the first and second pairs of sides separatingportions thereof above and below the top and the bottom of thesub-compartments, thereby permitting the portions above and below thetop and the bottom of the sub-compartments to be inwardly displacedafter the piece of substantially planar material is folded and the topsand the bottoms of the sub-compartments are folded down and up,respectively, to hold the tops and the bottoms of the sub-compartmentsin place. In some of such embodiments, the piece of substantially planarmaterial includes two of the plurality of slits for each top and foreach bottom of the sub-compartments.

In some embodiments, each of the planar sections defining the dividingwalls further includes a bottom extension sized and shaped to fold up toform a bottom of one of the sub-compartments. The substantially planarmaterial further includes a plurality of slits extending betweenadjacent sides of the first and second pairs of sides separatingportions thereof above the tops and below the bottoms of thesub-compartments, thereby permitting the portions above the tops andbelow the bottoms of the sub-compartments to be inwardly displaced afterthe piece of substantially planar material is folded and the tops andthe bottoms of the sub-compartments are folded down and up,respectively, to hold the tops and the bottoms of the sub-compartmentsin place.

In some embodiments, one or more of the sides of the first pair ofopposing sides or the second pair of opposing sides includes anitem-separating shelf formed as a portion of the single piece ofsubstantially planar material detached from its respective side exceptalong a line substantially perpendicular to the parallel scores, wherebythe shelf is adapted to fold into one of the sub-compartments toseparate such sub-compartment into vertically spacedsub-sub-compartments. In some of such embodiments, the shipping articleincludes item-separating shelves such as two item-separating shelvesseparating the two sub-compartments into four sub-sub-compartments, fouritem-separating shelves separating the two sub-compartments into sixsub-sub-compartments, six item-separating shelves separating the twosub-compartments into eight sub-sub-compartments.

In some embodiments, the single piece of material includes or iscorrugated cardboard. In some embodiments, the sub-compartments aresized to receive items such as wine bottles, aluminum beverage cans,beverage bottles, beverage growlers, beverage crowlers, and beveragebombers. In some embodiments, when the shipping article is folded, theshipping article contains and protects two or more items in thesub-compartments between the tops and bottoms formed by bottomextensions sized and shaped to fold up from the planar sections definingthe dividing walls. When the shipping article is located within anexternal box that encloses the shipping article, the external box andthe shipping article form a first crush void above the tops, and asecond crush void below the bottoms, the first and second crush voidsbeing defined by portions of the first and second pairs of opposingsides that extend beyond the bottoms and the tops.

According to some embodiments, an improved shipping article includes asingle piece of substantially planar material with parallel scoresformed therein thereby defining seven substantially planar sections ofthe shipping article, the seven planar sections of the shipping articledefining, when the piece of substantially planar material is foldedalong the parallel scores, a first pair of opposing, substantiallyparallel, spaced-apart sides, one of the first pair of sides beingformed of a single of the planar sections and the other of the firstpair of sides being formed of two other of the planar sections, a secondpair of opposing, substantially parallel, spaced-apart sides that aresubstantially perpendicular to the first pair of sides, and a pair ofdividing walls located adjacent each other and dividing a compartmentformed by the first and second pairs of sides into two sub-compartments.Each of the planar sections defining the dividing walls includes a topextension sized and shaped to fold down to form a top of one of thesub-compartments, and a bottom extension sized and shaped to fold up toform a bottom of one of the sub-compartments.

In some embodiments, each of the top extensions includes a hole thereinsized to receive a human finger or thumb to facilitate lifting of theshipping article by the top extensions during insertion of or removal ofthe shipping article from a secondary shipping container. In someembodiments, the sub-compartments have a substantially squarecross-section when taken substantially perpendicular to the material ofthe sides. In some embodiments, the substantially planar materialfurther includes two slits for each bottom of the sub-compartments andfor each top of the sub-compartments, the slits extending betweenadjacent sides of the first and second pairs of sides separatingportions thereof above and below the top and the bottom of thesub-compartments, thereby permitting the portions above the tops andbelow the bottoms of the sub-compartments to be inwardly displaced afterthe piece of substantially planar material is folded and the tops andthe bottoms of the sub-compartments are folded down and up,respectively, to hold the tops and the bottoms of the sub-compartmentsin place.

In some embodiments, one or more of the sides of the first pair ofopposing sides or the second pair of opposing sides includes anitem-separating shelf formed as a portion of the single piece ofsubstantially planar material detached from its respective side exceptalong a line substantially perpendicular to the parallel scores, wherebythe shelf is adapted to fold into one of the sub-compartments toseparate such sub-compartment into vertically spacedsub-sub-compartments. In some of such embodiments, the shipping articleincludes item-separating shelves such as two item-separating shelvesseparating the two sub-compartments into four sub-sub-compartments, fouritem-separating shelves separating the two sub-compartments into sixsub-sub-compartments, six item-separating shelves separating the twosub-compartments into eight sub-sub-compartments.

In some embodiments, the single piece of material includes or iscorrugated cardboard. In some embodiments, the sub-compartments aresized to receive items such as wine bottles, aluminum beverage cans,beverage bottles, beverage growlers, beverage crowlers, and beveragebombers. In some embodiments, when the shipping article is folded, theshipping article contains and protects two or more items in thesub-compartments between the tops and bottoms formed by bottomextensions sized and shaped to fold up from the planar sections definingthe dividing walls. When the shipping article is located within anexternal box that encloses the shipping article, the external box andthe shipping article form a first crush void above the tops, and asecond crush void below the bottoms, the first and second crush voidsbeing defined by portions of the first and second pairs of opposingsides that extend beyond the bottoms and the tops.

According to some embodiments, an improved shipping article includes asingle piece of substantially planar material with parallel scoresformed therein thereby defining six substantially planar sections of theshipping article, the six planar sections of the shipping articledefining, when the piece of substantially planar material is foldedalong the parallel scores, a first pair of opposing, substantiallyparallel, spaced-apart sides, a second pair of opposing, substantiallyparallel, spaced-apart sides that are substantially perpendicular to thefirst pair of sides, and a pair of dividing walls located adjacent eachother and dividing a compartment formed by the first and second pairs ofsides into two sub-compartments. Each of the planar sections definingthe dividing walls includes a top extension sized and shaped to folddown to form a top of one of the sub-compartments and a bottom extensionsized and shaped to fold up to form a bottom of one of thesub-compartments. One or more of the sides of the first pair of opposingsides or the second pair of opposing sides includes an item-separatingshelf formed as a portion of the single piece of substantially planarmaterial detached from its respective side except along a linesubstantially perpendicular to the parallel scores, whereby the shelf isadapted to fold into one of the sub-compartments to separate suchsub-compartment into vertically spaced sub-sub-compartments.

In some embodiments, the parallel scores further define a seventhsubstantially planar section of the shipping article, wherein when thepiece of substantially flat material is folded along the parallelscores, two of the planar sections of the shipping article jointly formone of the two of the first pair of opposing, substantially parallel,spaced-apart sides, and a single third planar section of the shippingarticle forms the other of the first pair of opposing, substantiallyparallel, spaced-apart sides. In some of such embodiments, thesub-compartments have a substantially square cross-section when takensubstantially perpendicular to the material of the sides. In some ofsuch embodiments, each of the planar sections defining the dividingwalls further includes a bottom extension sized and shaped to fold up toform a bottom of one of the sub-compartments. The substantially planarmaterial further includes a plurality of slits extending betweenadjacent sides of the first and second pairs of sides separatingportions thereof above and below the top and the bottom of thesub-compartments, thereby permitting the portions above and below thetop and the bottom of the sub-compartments to be inwardly displacedafter the piece of substantially planar material is folded and the topsand the bottoms of the sub-compartments are folded down and up,respectively, to hold the tops and the bottoms of the sub-compartmentsin place. In some of such embodiments, the piece of substantially planarmaterial includes two of the plurality of slits for each top and foreach bottom of the sub-compartments.

In some embodiments, each of the top extensions includes a hole thereinsized to receive a human finger or thumb to facilitate lifting of theshipping article by the top extensions during insertion of or removal ofthe shipping article from a secondary shipping container. In someembodiments, the substantially planar material further includes aplurality of slits extending between adjacent sides of the first andsecond pairs of sides separating portions thereof above the tops andbelow the bottoms of the sub-compartments, thereby permitting theportions above the tops and below the bottoms of the sub-compartments tobe inwardly displaced after the piece of substantially planar materialis folded and the tops and the bottoms of the sub-compartments arefolded down and up, respectively, to hold the tops and the bottoms ofthe sub-compartments in place.

In some embodiments, the shipping article includes item-separatingshelves such as two item-separating shelves separating the twosub-compartments into four sub-sub-compartments, four item-separatingshelves separating the two sub-compartments into sixsub-sub-compartments, six item-separating shelves separating the twosub-compartments into eight sub-sub-compartments.

In some embodiments, the single piece of material includes or iscorrugated cardboard. In some embodiments, the sub-compartments aresized to receive items such as wine bottles, aluminum beverage cans,beverage bottles, beverage growlers, beverage crowlers, and beveragebombers. In some embodiments, when the shipping article is folded, theshipping article contains and protects two or more items in thesub-compartments between the tops and bottoms formed by bottomextensions sized and shaped to fold up from the planar sections definingthe dividing walls. When the shipping article is located within anexternal box that encloses the shipping article, the external box andthe shipping article form a first crush void above the tops, and asecond crush void below the bottoms, the first and second crush voidsbeing defined by portions of the first and second pairs of opposingsides that extend beyond the bottoms and the tops.

The Figures illustrate various embodiments of improved shipping articles10. FIG. 1 illustrates a plan/flat view of a first embodiment of theshipping article 10 in its flat, unfolded state. The shipping article 10is formed of a single piece of substantially planar material 12. Afterinitial forming of the shipping article 10 (e.g., by cutting, scoring,folding, and the like), the shipping article 10 may not be naturallystrictly planar. In other words, the formed shipping article may beprone to bending at any score lines, for example. Additionally, thematerial 12, prior to forming of the shipping article 10, may have somenot strictly planar portions (e.g., due to natural undulations or thelike), but the material 12 should still be viewed as being“substantially planar.”

In certain embodiments, the substantially planar material 12 is apaperboard or a plastic board product. In some exemplary embodiments,the substantially planar material 12 is a corrugated paperboard productsuch as 40 edge crush test (40 ECT) or some other strength corrugatedboard. The strength of the substantially planar material 12, in someembodiments, is selected to allow the shipping article 10 to support theweight load of the anticipated contents of the shipping article 10. Theshipping article 10 may be formed of any desired substantially planarmaterial 12 as long as the shipping article 10 so formed satisfiesdesired strength, durability, weight, cost, and/or othercharacteristics, and one of ordinary skill in the art will be able todetermine appropriate materials or alternate materials for thesubstantially planar material 12.

In some embodiments, the material 12 is pre-readied for being formedinto the shipping article 10 by a process of cutting, perforating,scoring and/or pre-folding the material 12. In other embodiments, theshipping article 10 formation process also includes a step of formingthe substantially planar material 12, which may include a first step ofcutting or forming the substantially planar material 12 in the overallshape of the finished shipping article 10, which is then further formedby cutting, perforating, scoring, creasing, and/or folding the material.In certain embodiments, the material 12 is formed into the shippingarticle 10 at a manufactory while retaining its substantially planarconfiguration. The shipping article 10 is then transported (e.g.,shipped) to an end user (e.g., as a stack of substantially planarshipping articles 10). The end user then folds the material 12 alongpre-formed score lines 14 or creases to form the folded shipping article10 ready to receive contents for shipping.

The score lines 14 formed in the material 12 define substantially planarsections of the shipping article 10 that are formed when the material 12is folded by the end user. A series of substantially parallel scorelines 14 divide the material 12 into sides and dividing walls of theshipping article 10 in the embodiment of FIG. 1. In particular, theparallel score lines 14 divide the material 12 into a first pair ofsides 16, a second pair of sides 18, and a pair of dividing walls 20.When the shipping article 10 is folded into its folded configuration,the first sides 16 are arranged to be substantially parallel to eachother and are spaced apart to define an enclosed volume. Similarly, whenthe shipping article 10 is folded into its folded configuration, thesecond sides 18 are arranged to be substantially parallel to each otherand are spaced apart to further define and enclose the enclosed volume.The second sides 18 in at least some embodiments are generally orsubstantially perpendicular to the first sides 16 (i.e., the bends atthe score lines 14 are substantially right angles), when the shippingarticle 10 is in its folded configuration, such that the enclosed volumedefined by the first sides 16 and the second sides 18 is generally thatof a rectangular prism.

When the shipping article 10 is in its folded configuration, the twodividing walls 20 are located immediately adjacent to each other withinthe enclosed volume. The dividing walls 20 extend between oppositecorners of the shipping article 10 such that the dividing walls 20divide the enclosed volume (generally shaped as a rectangular prism)along its length into two sub-volumes that, in this embodiment, have ageneral shape of a triangular prism. FIG. 2 illustrates a illustrativecross-sectional view of the shipping article 10 of FIG. 1 in itspartially folded configuration after the material 12 has been foldedalong the parallel score lines 14 to encompass the two generallytriangular-prism-shaped sub-volumes making up the enclosed volume. Theview of FIG. 2 is not necessarily to scale to facilitate illustratingthe functionality of the folding of the material 12 to form the shippingarticle 10. By way of the folding of the material 12 in the manner shownin FIG. 2, the first sides 16 and the second sides 18 form a compartmentthat is divided into two sub-compartments by the dividing walls 20.

When the material 12 is initially formed, one or more locking tabs 22(two are illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 1) are cut into thematerial 12 such that the locking tabs 22 are formed from the materialof one of the dividing walls 20 such that the locking tabs 22 therebyeffectively form an extension of the material of one of the first sides16 or one of the second sides 18 (as in the embodiment of FIG. 1).Corresponding locking slots 24 or locking holes are also cut into one ofthe second sides 18 or one of the first sides 16 (of a type of side 16,18 different than the side 16, 18 from which the one or more lockingtabs 22 extend). The one or more corresponding locking slots 24 arelocated in the side 16, 18 proximate the other of the dividing walls 20and positioned such that when the material 12 is folded into thepartially folded configuration of FIG. 2, the locking tabs 22 will belocated immediately adjacent the locking slots, can be wrapped aroundthe corner where the dividing walls 20 meet, and can be pushed into thelocking slots 24. Pushing the locking tabs 22 into the locking slots 24secures the material 12 in the partially-folded state, as is also seenin FIG. 2.

The shipping article 10, as originally formed in its substantiallyplanar state, also includes score lines 14 on each of the dividing walls20 that are substantially perpendicular to the series of parallel scorelines 14 discussed previously. These perpendicular score lines 14delineate end portions of the dividing walls that form a top extension26 and a bottom extension 28 of each dividing wall 20. The topextensions 26 and the bottom extensions 28 serve to be folded to formtops and bottoms, respectively, of each of the sub-compartments, asshown in top-down perspective view of FIG. 3 (only the top extensions 26are shown in this view). Corresponding extension-securing slits 30 areformed extending between adjacent first sides 16 and second sides 18,such that the slits 30 are disposed opposite the dividing walls 20 whenthe shipping article 10 is in its folded state. The slits 30 serve toseparate a portion of the adjacent first sides 16 and second sides 18above upper slits 30 and below lower slits 30 such that the separatedportion can be displaced inwardly toward the dividing walls 20 after thetop extension 26 are folded down and the bottom extensions 28 are foldedup, thereby forming retaining members 32. The retaining members 32 holdthe top extensions 26 and the bottom extensions 28 in their foldedposition whereby they form secure tops and bottoms to thesub-compartments.

In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the top extensions26 and the bottom extensions 28 each include tabs 34 joined to therespective extension 26, 28 at further score lines 14. The tabs 34 foldup adjacent to the first sides 16 and the second sides 18, as shown inFIG. 3, when the top extensions 26 and the bottom extensions 28 arefolded inward, thereby providing additional strength to the topextensions 26 and the bottom extensions 28.

In certain embodiments, as also illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the topextensions 26 each include a hole 36 sized to receive a finger or thumbtherethrough. When the shipping article 10 is in its fully folded shapeas shown in FIG. 3, the holes 36 are adapted and positioned to permit auser to insert a thumb and finger into the holes 36, whereby the usercan lift the shipping article 10 (with any items contained in thesub-compartments) into or out of a secondary shipping container. In someembodiments, the secondary shipping container is a separate shippingarticle sized to receive a single shipping article 10 therein with itscontents. In other embodiments, the secondary shipping container issized to receive multiple of the shipping articles 10 therein with theircontents. Regardless, the placement of the holes 36 greatly facilitatessuch placement and removal.

The secondary shipping container serves to provide further protection tothe contents of the shipping article 10. In particular, two layers ofprotection are formed around all outer sides of the sub-compartments,and there are two layers of protection between the sub-compartmentsprovided by the dividing walls 20. Furthermore, the top extensions 26and the bottom extensions 28 forming the tops and bottoms of thesub-compartments, respectively, provide a space above and below thesub-compartments within the secondary shipping container. Accordingly,the contents of the sub-compartments are further protected againstimpacts to the secondary container, especially at the corners thereof,where damage is most likely to occur.

The shipping article 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 is especiallyadapted to protect fragile items, such as wine and alcohol bottles andother beverage containers such as beer cans and the like duringshipping. As particularly illustrated in FIG. 2, the individual contents38 of the shipping article 10 may have a generally circular maximumcross-sectional dimension that fits generally snugly within thesub-compartments and is protected by the shipping article 10. Theshipping article of FIGS. 1-3 is generally adapted to secure two itemsduring shipping, although it may be used to secure more than two itemsif such items are not prone to breakage.

Alternate embodiments of the shipping article 10 are adapted to receivemore than two items for shipping while still providing separation andprotection to all items contained in the shipping article. Inparticular, FIG. 4 illustrates a plan/flat view of one alternateembodiment of the shipping article 10. This embodiment is adapted tocontain four items during shipping while protecting such items both fromexternally caused damage and damage between items. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 4, the shipping article 10 is adapted to form twosub-compartments as discussed with respect to the embodiment of FIGS.1-3, but is further adapted to divide each sub-compartment verticallyinto two sub-sub-compartments.

The sub-compartment separation into sub-sub-compartments is achieved byway of item-separating shelves 40 that are formed from the unitary sheetof material 12 and are cut along all but one edge 42 thereof so to beseparated from the respective first side 16 or second side 18 where theyare located. A score or crease is optionally formed at the remainingedge 42 to facilitate folding of each shelf 40 into the sub-compartment.When the shelf 40 is folded into the sub-compartment, as shown in thecross-sectional view of FIG. 5, the shelf 40 extends in a planegenerally perpendicular to the planes of the first sides 16 and secondsides 18, and occupies a major portion of the sub-compartment, therebyserving to protect objects in one sub-sub-compartment against impactsfrom objects in the other, adjacent, sub-sub compartment. As may beappreciated, appropriate sizing of the sub-sub-compartments can be usedto minimize shifting or movement of the contents of the shipping article10 therein such that the protection afforded by the shelves 40 isadequate to protect the contents.

As may be appreciated by comparing the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 with theembodiment of FIGS. 4-5, the shipping article 10, when folded, is tallerto accommodate a stack of two items in each sub-compartment when similaritems are contained therein. One of ordinary skill in the art canreadily appreciate the variations in sizes that may be used toaccommodate a variety of items of varying sizes and of varying numbers.

While the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 is adapted to contain two items (e.g.,two wine bottles) and the embodiment of FIGS. 4-5 is adapted to containfour items (e.g., four beer bottles in the illustrated embodiment, butpotentially four cans of beer, four wine bottles, or other beverage,etc., as sized and adapted), other embodiments are possible. Indeed,FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment adapted to contain six items (e.g., sixcans of beer or other beverage). Other than variations in sizing, theembodiment of FIG. 6 is similar in features to the embodiment of FIGS.4-5. The primary difference is in the number and placement of theitem-separating shelves 40. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the edges 42are vertically centrally placed on their respective first side 16 andsecond side 18, thereby vertically dividing the shipping article equallyinto two sub-sub-compartments between the slits 30. In the embodiment ofFIG. 6, the edges 42 are spaced vertically on their respective firstside 16 and second side 18 at thirds between the slits 30. Thisplacement thus divides each sub-compartment equally in thirds betweenthe slits 30 into three sub-sub-compartments. As may be appreciated, therespective cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 could be equally applicable tothe embodiment of FIG. 6 as to the embodiment of FIG. 4.

While 1-6 illustrate embodiments of the shipping article 10 havingcertain numbers and relative sizes of sub-sub-compartments, it should beunderstood that embodiments of the shipping article 10 are not limitedto the embodiments illustrated in the Figures. Some embodiments of theshipping article 10 have differing numbers of sub-sub-compartments foreach sub-compartment. Some embodiments of the shipping article 10 haveonly a single sub-compartment on one side, and multiplesub-sub-compartments on the other side. Other embodiments of theshipping article 10 have more than the six sub-sub-compartmentsillustrated in FIG. 6. Other embodiments of the shipping article 10 havesub-sub-compartments with different proportions than those illustratedin FIGS. 1-6.

The embodiments of the shipping article 10 illustrated in FIGS. 4-6include embodiments of the finger hole 36. As with the embodiment of theshipping article 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the Finger holes 36 may beused by an end user to facilitate placement of the shipping article 10into a secondary shipping container or by a purchaser to facilitateremoval of the shipping article 10 from the secondary shippingcontainer. Alternate embodiments of the shipping article 10 are sizedsimilarly to the embodiments of the shipping article 10 shown in FIGS.4-6, and include the shelves 40, but lack the finger holes 36. In suchembodiments, placement of the shipping article 10 into or removal of theshipping article 10 from the secondary container is achieved by othermeans (such as by grasping the retaining members 32, by holding theexterior of the shipping article 10, or, in the case of removal, bytilting the secondary shipping container).

Another style of shipping article 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 7-9. Theembodiment of the shipping article 10 shown in these Figures may beparticularly adapted to shipping articles having a slightly largerdiameter, including larger beverage containers such as growlers,crowlers, or bombers; however, versions of the shipping article 10having features similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7-9 maybe provided and sized to receive any size of contents. Similarly, whilethe embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7-9 is adapted to receive twoarticles for shipping, further alternate embodiments may be provided forcontaining and shipping additional articles by altering the dimensionsof the shipping article 10 and providing shelves 40 similar to thoseillustrated in FIGS. 4-6.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, the shipping article 10 isgenerally divided into six substantially planar sections that make upthe first and second sides 16, 18, and the dividing walls 20. In theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7-9, the shipping article 10 isgenerally divided into seven substantially planar sections thatcollectively make up the first and second sides 16, 18, and the dividingwalls 20. In this instance, however, one of the first sides 16 iscollectively made up of or formed by two smaller sections 44 of thesubstantially planar sections, while the other of the first sides 16 ismade up of a single, centrally positioned, larger section 46 of thesubstantially planar sections.

Accordingly, when the shipping article 10 of this embodiment is foldedinto its folded position, the first and second sides 16, 18, and thedividing walls 20 form encompass a volume shaped in the general form ofa rectangular prism and divide it into two sub-compartments each havinga shape of a rectangular prism, as shown in the top-down cross-sectionalview of FIG. 8 and the top-down perspective view of FIG. 9. As may beseen in FIGS. 7-9, the features of this embodiment of the shippingarticle 10 may be similar to and may serve functions similar to thosefeatures and functions discussed with previous embodiments. The shapesof certain portions may vary in accordance with the differing overallshape of the shipping article 10 of this embodiment, but it will besimple to understand the similar function from the foregoing descriptionand appending drawings.

While the embodiment of FIGS. 7-9 includes finger holes 36 as did theembodiments shown in FIGS. 1-6, alternate embodiments similar in overallshape to the embodiment of FIGS. 7-9 (e.g., forming sub-compartmentsand/or sub-sub-compartments having a generally rectangular prism shape)lack the finger holes 36 shown in FIGS. 7-9. Additionally, while theillustrated embodiment of FIGS. 7-9 shows two retaining members formedfrom portions of the sides 16, 18 above and below the slits 30 for eachtop extension 26 and bottom extension 28, alternate embodiments of theshipping article 10 provide only a single retaining member 32 for eachtop extension 26 and/or bottom extension 28.

While one of ordinary skill in the art will be readily able to selectand vary specific sizes of dimensions for the various parts of thevarious embodiments of the shipping article 10, illustrative dimensionsof aspects of specific embodiments of the illustrated embodiments arenow provided by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. Inparticular, turning to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the shipping article(in its flat state) has a total width of approximately 40 inches(approximately 102 cm) and a total height of approximately 19.5 inches(approximately 49.5 cm). Each of the sides 16, 18, has a width ofapproximately 6 inches (approximately 15.2 cm) and a height ofapproximately 16.8 inches (approximately 42.7 cm). The dividing walls 20each have a width of approximately 8 inches (approximately 20.3 cm) anda height (between the score lines) of approximately 13.25 inches(approximately 33.7 cm). The top and bottom extensions 26, 28 have aheight of approximately 3.13 inches (approximately 7.25 cm). The fingerholes 36 have a diameter of approximately 1 inch (approximately 2.5 cm).

Turning to FIG. 4, in one embodiment, the shipping article (in its flatstate) has a total width of approximately 32.5 inches (approximately82.6 cm) and a total height of approximately 24.75 inches (approximately62.9 cm). Each of the sides 16, 18, has a width of approximately 4.9inches (approximately 12.5 cm) and a height of approximately 22.75inches (approximately 57.8 cm). The dividing walls 20 each have a widthof approximately 6.4 inches (approximately 16.2 cm) and a height(between the score lines) of approximately 19.25 inches (approximately48.9 cm). The top and bottom extensions 26, 28 have a height ofapproximately 2.75 inches (approximately 7.0 cm). The finger holes 36have a diameter of approximately 1 inch (approximately 2.5 cm). Theitem-separating shelves 40 have a width of approximately 3.1 inches(approximately 7.8 cm).

Turning to FIG. 6, in one embodiment, the shipping article (in its flatstate) has a total width of approximately 32.5 inches (approximately82.6 cm) and a total height of approximately 20.7 inches (approximately52.5 cm). Each of the sides 16, 18, has a width of approximately 4.9inches (approximately 12.5 cm) and a height of approximately 18.7 inches(approximately 47.5 cm). The dividing walls 20 each have a width ofapproximately 6.4 inches (approximately 16.2 cm) and a height (betweenthe score lines) of approximately 15.2 inches (approximately 38.6 cm).The top and bottom extensions 26, 28 have a height of approximately 2.75inches (approximately 7.0 cm). The finger holes 36 have a diameter ofapproximately 1 inch (approximately 2.5 cm). The item-separating shelves40 have a width of approximately 3.1 inches (approximately 7.8 cm). Theitem-separating shelves 40 are vertically spaced so as to createsub-sub-compartments having a height of approximately 5.1 inches(approximately 12.9 cm).

Turning to FIG. 7, in one embodiment, the shipping article (in its flatstate) has a total width of approximately 41.4 inches (approximately105.1 cm) and a total height of approximately 21.3 inches (approximately54.1 cm). Each of the first sides 16 (and the larger section 46) has awidth of approximately 10.5 inches (approximately 26.7 cm). Each of thesecond sides 18 has a width of approximately 5.25 inches (approximately13.3 cm). Each of the smaller sections 44 has a width of approximately5.1 inches (approximately 13.0 cm). The first and second sides 16, 18and their respective sections 44, 46 have a height of approximately 14.8inches (approximately 37.6 cm). The dividing walls 20 each have a widthof approximately 5.1 inches (approximately 13.0 cm) and a height(between the score lines) of approximately 11.3 inches (approximately28.7 cm). The top and bottom extensions 26, 28 have a height ofapproximately 5 inches (approximately 12.7 cm). The finger holes 36 havea diameter of approximately 1 inch (approximately 2.5 cm).

In each of the foregoing specifically-illustrated embodiments, thethickness of the material 12 is approximately ⅛ inch (approximately 0.1inches or approximately 0.3 cm). As mentioned previously, the material12 may be 40 ECT corrugated box material.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
 1. Animproved shipping article comprising: a single piece of substantiallyplanar material with parallel scores formed therein thereby defining sixsubstantially planar sections of the shipping article, the six planarsections of the shipping article defining, when the piece ofsubstantially planar material is folded along the parallel scores: afirst pair of opposing, substantially parallel, spaced-apart sides; asecond pair of opposing, substantially parallel, spaced-apart sides thatare substantially perpendicular to the first pair of sides; and a pairof dividing walls located adjacent each other and dividing a compartmentformed by the first and second pairs of sides into two sub-compartments;wherein each of the planar sections defining the dividing wallscomprises a top extension sized and shaped to fold down to form a top ofone of the sub-compartments, and wherein each of the top extensionscomprises a hole therein sized to receive a human finger or thumb tofacilitate lifting of the shipping article by the top extensions duringinsertion of or removal of the shipping article from a secondaryshipping container.
 2. The shipping article of claim 1, wherein theparallel scores further define a seventh substantially planar section ofthe shipping article, wherein when the piece of substantially flatmaterial is folded along the parallel scores, two of the planar sectionsof the shipping article jointly form one of the two of the first pair ofopposing, substantially parallel, spaced-apart sides, and a single thirdplanar section of the shipping article forms the other of the first pairof opposing, substantially parallel, spaced-apart sides.
 3. The shippingarticle of claim 2, wherein the sub-compartments have a substantiallyrectangular cross-section when taken substantially perpendicular to thematerial of the sides.
 4. The shipping article of claim 2, wherein thesub-compartments have a substantially square cross-section when takensubstantially perpendicular to the material of the sides.
 5. Theshipping article of claim 2, wherein: each of the planar sectionsdefining the dividing walls further comprises a bottom extension sizedand shaped to fold up to form a bottom of one of the sub-compartments;and the substantially planar material further comprises a plurality ofslits extending between adjacent sides of the first and second pairs ofsides separating portions thereof above and below the top and the bottomof the sub-compartments, thereby permitting the portions above and belowthe top and the bottom of the sub-compartments to be inwardly displacedafter the piece of substantially planar material is folded and the topsand the bottoms of the sub-compartments are folded down and up,respectively, to hold the tops and the bottoms of the sub-compartmentsin place.
 6. The shipping article of claim 5, wherein the piece ofsubstantially planar material comprises two of the plurality of slitsfor each top and for each bottom of the sub-compartments.
 7. Theshipping article of claim 1, wherein: each of the planar sectionsdefining the dividing walls further comprises a bottom extension sizedand shaped to fold up to form a bottom of one of the sub-compartments;and the substantially planar material further comprises a plurality ofslits extending between adjacent sides of the first and second pairs ofsides separating portions thereof above the tops and below the bottomsof the sub-compartments, thereby permitting the portions above the topsand below the bottoms of the sub-compartments to be inwardly displacedafter the piece of substantially planar material is folded and the topsand the bottoms of the sub-compartments are folded down and up,respectively, to hold the tops and the bottoms of the sub-compartmentsin place.
 8. The shipping article of claim 1, wherein one or more of thesides of the first pair of opposing sides or the second pair of opposingsides comprises an item-separating shelf formed as a portion of thesingle piece of substantially planar material detached from itsrespective side except along a line substantially perpendicular to theparallel scores, whereby the shelf is adapted to fold into one of thesub-compartments to separate such sub-compartment into vertically spacedsub-sub-compartments.
 9. The shipping article of claim 8, wherein theshipping article comprises item-separating shelves selected from thegroup consisting of: two item-separating shelves separating the twosub-compartments into four sub-sub-compartments; four item-separatingshelves separating the two sub-compartments into sixsub-sub-compartments; and six item-separating shelves separating the twosub-compartments into eight sub-sub-compartments.
 10. The shippingarticle of claim 1, wherein the single piece of material comprisescorrugated cardboard.
 11. The shipping article of claim 1, wherein thesub-compartments are sized to receive items selected from the groupconsisting of: wine bottles; aluminum beverage cans; beverage bottles;beverage growlers; beverage crowlers; and beverage bombers.
 12. Theshipping article of claim 1, wherein the shipping article is folded,wherein the shipping article contains and protects two or more items inthe sub-compartments between the tops and bottoms formed by bottomextensions sized and shaped to fold up from the planar sections definingthe dividing walls, and wherein the shipping article is located withinan external box that encloses the shipping article, a first crush voidabove the tops, and a second crush void below the bottoms, the first andsecond crush voids being defined by portions of the first and secondpairs of opposing sides that extend beyond the bottoms and the tops. 13.An improved shipping article comprising: a single piece of substantiallyplanar material with parallel scores formed therein thereby definingseven substantially planar sections of the shipping article, the sevenplanar sections of the shipping article defining, when the piece ofsubstantially planar material is folded along the parallel scores: afirst pair of opposing, substantially parallel, spaced-apart sides, oneof the first pair of sides being formed of a single of the planarsections and the other of the first pair of sides being formed of twoother of the planar sections; a second pair of opposing, substantiallyparallel, spaced-apart sides that are substantially perpendicular to thefirst pair of sides; and a pair of dividing walls located adjacent eachother and dividing a compartment formed by the first and second pairs ofsides into two sub-compartments; wherein each of the planar sectionsdefining the dividing walls comprises: a top extension sized and shapedto fold down to form a top of one of the sub-compartments; and a bottomextension sized and shaped to fold up to form a bottom of one of thesub-compartments.
 14. The shipping article of claim 13, wherein each ofthe top extensions comprises a hole therein sized to receive a humanfinger or thumb to facilitate lifting of the shipping article by the topextensions during insertion of or removal of the shipping article from asecondary shipping container.
 15. The shipping article of claim 13,wherein the sub-compartments have a substantially square cross-sectionwhen taken substantially perpendicular to the material of the sides. 16.The shipping article of claim 13, wherein the substantially planarmaterial further comprises two slits for each bottom of thesub-compartments and for each top of the sub-compartments, the slitsextending between adjacent sides of the first and second pairs of sidesseparating portions thereof above and below the top and the bottom ofthe sub-compartments, thereby permitting the portions above the tops andbelow the bottoms of the sub-compartments to be inwardly displaced afterthe piece of substantially planar material is folded and the tops andthe bottoms of the sub-compartments are folded down and up,respectively, to hold the tops and the bottoms of the sub-compartmentsin place.
 17. The shipping article of claim 13, wherein one or more ofthe sides of the first pair of opposing sides or the second pair ofopposing sides comprises an item-separating shelf formed as a portion ofthe single piece of substantially planar material detached from itsrespective side except along a line substantially perpendicular to theparallel scores, whereby the shelf is adapted to fold into one of thesub-compartments to separate such sub-compartment into vertically spacedsub-sub-compartments.
 18. An improved shipping article comprising: asingle piece of substantially planar material with parallel scoresformed therein thereby defining six substantially planar sections of theshipping article, the six planar sections of the shipping articledefining, when the piece of substantially planar material is foldedalong the parallel scores: a first pair of opposing, substantiallyparallel, spaced-apart sides; a second pair of opposing, substantiallyparallel, spaced-apart sides that are substantially perpendicular to thefirst pair of sides; and a pair of dividing walls located adjacent eachother and dividing a compartment formed by the first and second pairs ofsides into two sub-compartments; wherein each of the planar sectionsdefining the dividing walls comprises: a top extension sized and shapedto fold down to form a top of one of the sub-compartments; and a bottomextension sized and shaped to fold up to form a bottom of one of thesub-compartments; wherein one or more of the sides of the first pair ofopposing sides or the second pair of opposing sides comprises anitem-separating shelf formed as a portion of the single piece ofsubstantially planar material detached from its respective side exceptalong a line substantially perpendicular to the parallel scores, wherebythe shelf is adapted to fold into one of the sub-compartments toseparate such sub-compartment into vertically spacedsub-sub-compartments.
 19. The shipping article of claim 18, wherein theparallel scores further define a seventh substantially planar section ofthe shipping article, wherein when the piece of substantially flatmaterial is folded along the parallel scores, two of the planar sectionsof the shipping article jointly form one of the two of the first pair ofopposing, substantially parallel, spaced-apart sides, and a single thirdplanar section of the shipping article forms the other of the first pairof opposing, substantially parallel, spaced-apart sides.
 20. Theshipping article of claim 18, wherein each of the top extensionscomprises a hole therein sized to receive a human finger or thumb tofacilitate lifting of the shipping article by the top extensions duringinsertion of or removal of the shipping article from a secondaryshipping container.